The drone paused for a second longer on him than it did for the others.
He didn’t comment.
"Looks like they’re watching us," Evelyn said, reading her own tag.
Silas glanced at his and frowned. "Only 68% for me. Rude."
Reia’s was 79%. Vyn didn’t even check hers. Just pocketed the card with her room number.
As they started moving toward their designated quarters, a group of students from another academy passed by. One of them stopped in front of Evelyn, eyeing her wristband.
"Class Zero?" he said, mock confused. "Didn’t realize the Academy was handing out invites like charity."
Evelyn tilted her head. "Didn’t realize fourth years still wore their daddy’s ego like a badge."
His smile froze a little. Then he scoffed and walked off.
Reia chuckled. Quiet. Dangerous.
"They don’t know you, Eve."
"They’ll learn," Evelyn muttered.
As they entered the housing corridor, the energy shifted. Students from other academies peeked out of their rooms. Some whispered. Some just watched.
There was no warm welcome here.
No one cared that they were first years.
No one cared how clean their executions were back in training.
This was Zenith Week.
And in this place, power spoke first, not reputation.
Lucian glanced down at his wrist again, then looked toward the end of the hallway.
The others were silent behind him, but he felt them.
Athena’s voice echoed faintly from the overhead system.
"All classes. Rest tonight. First stage begins tomorrow at 0900. Prep accordingly."
Lucian turned once, eyes drifting across the group.
No speeches. No prep talk.
Just quiet steps as each of them split into their assigned rooms.
Outside the arena, the sponsors watched closely.
"My money’s on Frost," one of the men from Echelon said, sipping his drink.
"That Black kid though..." Myu Koji murmured. "He doesn’t move like a first year."
Eliana Blaze didn’t say anything.
She just watched the footage replaying Lucian folding an Elite drone like paper.
Then leaned forward slightly.
"Let’s see what happens when the gloves come off."
Zenith Week had started.
And Class Zero had just entered the deep end.